MDC designed and sponsored the NC VetsCorps program to deploy AmeriCorps members with community-based organizations across North Carolina to build their institutional capacities to help economically vulnerable veterans and military families achieve greater economic stability.

The program also developed and demonstrated new strategies for connecting economically vulnerable veterans and military families with legal, food, clothing, medical, utility, education, employment, and housing resources.

The origin of NC VetsCorps stemmed from requests from community-based organizations that were participating in MDC’s The Benefit Bank® of North Carolina project. These organizations asked MDC’s team how to build capacity to serve increasing numbers of economically vulnerable veterans and military families who were seeking services from these organizations.

MDC applied for and received a federal planning grant to design a demonstration model to deploy AmeriCorps members with community-based organizations to build their capacity and develop innovative models for connecting economically vulnerable veterans and military families with resources.

NC VetsCorps launched on Jan. 1, 2014, and completed its third and final year in August 2016. The program was funded over three years by federal grants issued by the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service and by matching grant funds, including support from the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, The Duke Endowment, Wells Fargo, Triangle Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Child Trust Foundation, and Talent Curve.

This funding allowed MDC to sponsor AmeriCorps members hosted by community-based organizations. The placement of NC VetsCorps members in the third and final year of the program is depicted on this map:

Members of NC VetsCorps supported their communities by working with local organizations that need help expanding or supporting their programs for economically vulnerable veterans and military families.

The program specifically developed outreach and services models recognizing that, for high-need veterans and military families, legal services are often necessary to sustain work with human-service providers. Through member collaboration, NC VetsCorps provided intersecting support.

GOALS

NC VetsCorps members and their “host site” organizations were expected to connect at least 4,700 economically veterans and military families with legal, food, clothing, medical, utility, education, employment, and housing resources and services/

Members were expected to recruit at least 1,275 volunteers to support the missions of their host site organizations.

MDC is preparing to disseminate a report on NC VetsCorps activities and lessons learned for policy and practice.

IMPACT

NC Corps members and their host site organizations exceeded their service goals by serving 9,308 veterans and military families.

Members exceeded their volunteer recruitment goals by recruiting 1,922 volunteers to support the missions of their host site organizations.

The program substantially exceeded the projected goals stated in MDC’s applications to the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, as shown on this graph: